Nigel Clarke

In 2015 he collaborated with Danish writer Malene Sheppard Skærved on his first symphony ("A Richer Dust") for Speaker and Symphonic Wind Orchestra. Using music and words, ‘A Richer Dust’ explores what it means to live with violence and extremism, the constant companions of human history. The intertwined text and music, ideas and images, weave together voices ranging from those of historically significant figures through to the voiceless, ordinary people living in extraordinary times. "A Richer Dust" was commissioned by Dr Reed Thomas and the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Wind Ensemble. It was premiered on 14 April 2015 by Dr Reed Thomas (Conductor), H. Stephen Smith (Speaker) and the MTSU Wind Ensemble in the T. Earl Music Hall, Wright Music Building, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA. The European Premiere was given by the Regimental Band of the Irish Guards on 6 November in the Guards Chapel, London, under the baton of the composer with WO1 Andrew Porter as Speaker.

In 1997, Clarke visited the United States as part of the country's International Visitor Leadership Program, and the President's Own Marine Band performed one of his pieces, "Samurai", conducted by Colonel Timothy Foley. The Winnipeg Fress Press described the piece as a throbbing, raucous work influenced by Japanese drumming. Clarke is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

After failing the 11plus (school exam) Clarke attended St. John's Secondary Modern School, Margate, UK, a school aimed at children that would probably not go on to higher education. This could have been an early setback for a musical career, however the school had a strong emphasis on music and in particular brass playing. He went on to be a junior musician (bandsman) at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent in 1977, but was unable to complete the course successfully for musical reasons. In 1979 he joined the Staff Band of the Royal Army Medical under the direction of Major Peter Parkes and attended the Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall) the same year. In 1982 Clarke started his studies as a composition student at the Royal Academy of Music and also joined the Band of the Irish Guards which he served with until 1986. Clarke feels that some of his early setbacks in life, both at school, and as a junior bandsman in the Royal Marines Band Service are down to the fact that he has dyslexia. He said "I was very disruptive at school and music use to calm me down".

Nigel Clarke (born 1960) is a British composer and musician. He is a former head of composition and contemporary music at the London College of Music and Media.